Bruno Fernandes has hinted he could be considering a shock departure from Manchester United, just a day after reports suggested the club was open to drastically selling off most of its squad this summer.
Erik ten Hag won the Carabao Cup and led United to third place in his debut season in the Premier League, but endured a nightmarish second season at Old Trafford.
United sit sixth in the table, were dumped out of the Champions League at the group stage and their defense of the League Cup came to a premature end.
Ten Hag’s men reached the FA Cup final for the second season in a row after surviving a major scare against Coventry, but their chances of upsetting Manchester City in a repeat of last season’s showpiece look slim.
The club’s captain Fernandes was one of the few positives in an otherwise dismal season. He scored 15 goals in 45 games in all competitions and set up a further 11 goals.
Bruno Fernandes has admitted he could consider leaving Manchester United
The Portuguese said he wants to feel wanted at Old Trafford under the new INEOS regime
Fernandes has been a standout performer for United this season, with 15 goals and 11 assists in 45 games in all competitions
The Portuguese is under contract at Old Trafford until the end of the 2025/26 season – United have an option to extend the deal for a further 12 months – and is widely seen as one of United’s cornerstones.
But Fernandes appeared to cast doubt on his sustainability at United, where he joined from Sporting Lisbon in January 2020, and insisted he needed to feel wanted at Old Trafford.
“I’m not thinking about other things at the moment,” he told DAZNPortugal on Tuesday.
“Clearly it doesn’t just depend on me, right? A player must always want to be here, but at the same time you must want him to stay. Right now I feel like that’s on both sides.”
However, the Portugal international noted that any discussion about his future would have to wait until after the European Championship.
“I’m not thinking too much about the future, not least because this season obviously hasn’t been at the level I would have hoped for, both individually and collectively, so far,” he explained.
Erik ten Hag is fighting for his future at Old Trafford after a bleak season
Sir Jim Ratcliffe (right) is prepared to be bold with spending due to United’s meager budget
Manchester United are open to selling the majority of their squad, including Marcus Rashford
Along with Kobbie Mainoo, Rasmus Hojlund (left) and Alejandro Garnacho (right) are two of the only three players United do not want to sell this summer
‘We could still end the season by winning [FA] Cup. After that, a very important euro awaits us.
‘So if you want me to be completely honest, if I have to think about not continuing in the Premier League, it won’t be until after the Euros because nothing will take my attention away from the FA Cup final. the euro, because there is nothing more important than that at the moment.
His comments came barely 24 hours a day. Reports suggested that INEOS, which took control of football operations at Old Trafford following Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s 25 per cent takeover earlier this year, was preparing a brutal eviction.
According to The TelegraphRatcliffe and new CEO Omar Berrada are prepared to be bold with potential end-of-season spending, especially with United restricted by Premier League spending rules.
Only three players – Kobbie Mainoo, Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund – have been spared from the chopping block, while United are open to offers for Marcus Rashford.
MailsportChris Wheeler first reported that selling Rashford is an option. With 100 percent of profits from trading in domestic players earmarked for compliance with FFP regulations, a sale could fit in with INEOS’s push for a fierce economic boost.
Paris Saint-Germain, who held talks with Rashford’s representatives two years ago, are one of the few clubs who could realistically match his £75m valuation and compete with his hefty personal terms if they look to replace Kylian Mbappe .
Mailsport understands that United continue to believe in Rashford and want him to succeed after investing so heavily in him with a new contract.
According to the BBCMeanwhile, United would need ‘a big offer’ to even consider parting ways with Fernandes.